Cuomo Unveils Gay Marriage Bill

Governor Andrew Cuomo’s bill to legalize gay marriage in New York provides several protections for religious groups opposed to same-sex marriage.

The Marriage Equality Act would assure married gay couples have the same legal protections, rights and benefits of traditional married couples.

The bill also says so-called “religious corporations” are “private” entities and don’t have to accommodate gay marriage, meaning clergy won’t be forced to marry gay couples. Republicans in the Senate say the religious exemptions are an important element.

The key to the bill is language stating a marriage license application can’t be denied because the couple is gay.
The Democrat-led Assembly is expected to pass the bill easily.

The Republican-led Senate, where the vote is very close, plans to consider it Wednesday behind closed doors.